Gallery Recap: Portland Thorns (0) v NC Courage (0)

Posted on by M. Cleary Posted in North Carolina Courage, NWSL, Photo Recap, Portland Thorns, UncategorizedTagged , ,

In their last match of the regular season, the Thorns draw with the Courage, killing North Carolina’s hopes of making the playoffs. The two teams were evenly matched and split stats almost down the middle, with the exceptions of fouls, which were decidedly tipped towards the Thorns who had three times as many called on them. While the Thorns end the season winning the NWSL shield, their talent still feels untapped. Their lack of finish is still noticeable, even when they win, which makes their standing even more impressive. Playoffs begin next weekend ending with the NWSL Championship on November 20th.

  • Courage Amy Rodriguez tries to prevent Megan Klingenburg’s cross in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Courage Kaleigh Kurtz tries to keep Thorns Sophia Smith out of the Courage box in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns Sophia Smith sheds Courage Defender Kaleigh Kurtz but is still pursued by Courage Denise O’Sullivan in the Courage box in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns Sophia Smith passes to Thorns Morgan Weaver as Smith falls and Weaver takes a shot while held by Carson Pickett in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns Lindsey Horan and Courage Jessica MacDonald battle for the ball in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Courage Denise O’Sullivan pushes Thorns forward Sophia Smith off the ball in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns Sophia Smith shoots but misses in the early minutes of the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns Megan Klingenberg and Becky Sauerbrunn defend against Courage Debinha and Jessica MacDonald in the Thorn’s box in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Courage Merritt Mathias tries to keep Thorns Christine Sinclair, an Olympic gold medalist from Canada, in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Courage Merritt Mathias and Thorns Morgan Weaver battle for possession in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns goalie Bella Bixby grabs the high cross before Courage forward Jessica MacDonald can get her head on it in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Courage Cari Roccaro and Thorns Lindsey Horan battle for possession in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns Kelli Hubly and Courage Lynn Williams battle for possession in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Courage Debinha hooks Thorns Angela Salem’s leg and sends Salem to the ground in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns Christine Sinclair, an Olympic gold medalist from Canada, and Courage Debinha have words after Debinha fouls Thorns Angela Salem with a leg hook in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns forward Sophia Smith gets sandwiched between the Courage double team of Denise O’Sullivan and Abby Erceg in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns Natalia Kuikka beats Courage Jessica MacDonald to the header in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Courage Lynn Williams tries to dribble through the Thorns double team of Emily Menges and Yasmeen Ryan in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).
  • Thorns goalie Bella Bixby grabs the high shot and keeps her slate clean in the 0-0 draw between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong).

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